Improvement in brick-kilns



W. ENNIS.

Brick Kiln.

No. 99,174. Patented Jan. 25, 1870.

FIG, 2

w/za/asxrssz' m g mrmvvro/a' 9 6 ,411 m wmwuh N. PETERS. FHOTU-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHKNGTON, D C.

waited fittin I @8121 awn.

WILLIAM ENNIS. OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 99,174, dated January 25, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRICK-KILNS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same WILLIAM ENNIS, of Philadelphia, county of Phil a-delphia, State of Pennsylvania, has invented an Improved Brick-Kiln, of which the following is a specification.

Nature and Object 'of the Invention.

My invention consists of a kiln, of a circular and dome-like, or approximate form, constructed and .arranged in the peculiar manner fully described hereafter, with the view of obtaining a thorough and equal distribution and circulation of the heated products of combustion throughout the whole interior of the kiln, so that the bricks, or other articles, when removed from the kiln, shall be'of nearly uniform quality.

Description of the AccompanyingDrawing.

Figure 1 is a'vertical section of my improved kiln;

Figure 2, a sectional plan view of the same, on the line 1 2, fig. l; and

Figure 3, an exterior plan.

General Description.

A represents the surface of the ground, or any suitable foundation of brick or masonry, for the support of the kiln B, the latter being, in the present instance, semispherical, or dome-shaped, from its base upward, as best observed in fig. 1, so that the roof of the kiln. being merely a continuation of its sides, shall be entirely self-supporting.

A cylindrical flue, O, which communicates with a furnace, D, of any suitable construction, built beneath the kiln, projects upward from the centre of the floor of the latter, to a height somewhat greater than it is intended to pile the bricks to be burned, this flue being open at the top, and perforated around its sides witha number of holes, a.

Inthe roof of the kiln, directly above the flue G, is an opening, b, fora purpose described hereafter, and the entire walls of the kiln are perforated with holes, h, to about the height represented in the drawing, all of these holes communicating with an annular chamber, F, formed between the kiln proper, and a wall, G, which extends around the same.

This annular chamber F is covered above, and has, in the present instance, four outlet-fines, or stacks, j, each of which is furnished at the top with a damper, h, of ordinary construction; and in the wall G, at the bottom of the annular chamber, are several openings, n}, the object of which will be rendered apparent herea ter.

Access is obtained to the interior of the kiln through temporary doors or openings,.p, which are so arranged around the kiln, that the latter can be entered from opposite sides, this enabling several gangs of men to be employed at the same time in setting the kiln,

and much facilitating the operation.

The bricks may be piled in courses or circular rows around the central flue O, with numerous interstices between them, or in any other manner which will insure a thorough circulation of the heated products of combustion throughout the entire mass.

After having fully stocked the kiln, the doors 1) and openings in are walled up, and a moderate fire is started in the furnace I), the smoke and heated gases from the latter passing upward, through the central fiue'O, into the kiln, and being permitted, together with the vapor which arises from the partially-dried bricks, to pass off through the opening I) at the top of the kiln.

After the bricks have been thoroughly dried, the opening I) is closed, and the dampers k, at the top of the stacks j, opened, the heat being then gradually increased to the intensity required.

\Vhen the opening b is closed, the only outlets for the products of combustion are the perforations h in the sides of the kiln, so that the greater portion of the heat passes at once through the holes a, in the sides of the flue O, and travels. in direct radial lines, through the interstices between the bricks, t0 the perforations h, whence it escapes to the annular chamber F, and thence to the outlet-fines j. This radial circulation of heat, induced by the numerous perforations h, etfects such a thorough and perfect burning of the bricks, that they are nearly of a uniform quality when removed from the kiln. I

That portion of the heat which passes directly from the flue G into the upper portion of the kiln, is de-. flected by the dome-shaped roof of the latter on to the bricks, and escapes, finally, through the perforations it into the annular chamber.

This annular chamber, besides serving as an outlet for the perforations h, answers, also, as areservoir, on which to retain a considerable volume of heat at the most advantageous point, or directly opposite that portion-of the kiln in which the bricks are contained.

It will be evident, without further description, that the thorough and equal distribution and economizing of the heat attainable in my improved ki'ln,will enable the operations to he conducted with a much less expenditure of fuel than is usually required.

In cooling the bricks,-it is as essential that the heat should be gradually reduced, as that it should be gradually increased at the commencement of the operation, and for this purpose the improved kiln is especially adapted, the method of cooling being as follows:

The fire in the furnace D is first permitted to die out, and the opening I) at the top of the kiln is uncovered; after which, the dampers hare closed, and the passages m, in the wall G, opened, so that currents of cool air may circulate in the annular chamber F, and pass from the same, through the perforations h, into the kiln, circulating among the bricks, and escaping, finally, from the opening I), and the latter can, if necessary Claim.

A kiln, surrounded by, and communicating, through a perforated inner walhwith an annular chamber, F, and having a central perforated flue, Q, from which the products of combustion are conducted radially across the kiln to the chamber F, as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM ENNIS.

Witnesses WM. A. STEEL, HARRY Sm'rn. 

